Chương 24: Before the First Dawn

"My servant, huh... honestly, I doubt it. I'm not exactly looking for servants of any kind right now... By the way, you can stand up already."

"I already serve my lady Selene, so in that sense I serve you as well. But I do believe you should seek more servants, Lord Nereziel," Belkar replied as he rose to his feet.

"With only a mere lesser god at your side, people will look down on you."

"What? Are you trying to sell me a fight? Because I'm buying." Once again, Cerys moved to extend her hand and summon her Eidolon, but remembering the earlier incident, she stopped and cast Nerez a sidelong glance.

"Don't you dare," he sighed from behind her.

"I just got this manor. I'm not destroying it on the first day."

"You needn't worry either, Belkar," Selene said.

"While I also believe Nerez should increase his personal retinue sooner rather than later, for now there is no issue."

"My lady, including me, you already have several gods under your command. It is the same with the five major gods," Belkar insisted.

"Even if Lord Nereziel is one of the three absolute gods, if he is taken by surprise with only a single lesser god at his side..." As expected from the god of assassins, a situation like that is the first thing his mind goes to... Nerez felt another chill run down his spine.

"Lesser god, lesser god, lesser god... Nerez, can I decapitate him? It'll be over in a second, and I'll clean the carpet if you want."

"Of course not."

"Tch."

"Given how skilled you are at gathering information, you surely already know that the Crimson Calamity was infamous in her days as an immortal, and that she was the other candidate for the domain of death," Selene explained.

"But now she has not only ascended to godhood, she also benefits from serving the god of death. And I assume you've noticed the equipment she's wearing."

"Yes, of course, but I thought it was merely a gift from Lord Nereziel. I did not expect her to really know how to take advantage of it..." Nerez had to grab Cerys by the scruff of the neck to stop her from lunging at the patron god of thieves and assassins.

"I hate to admit it, but our recent little clash made it clear that all of that really adds up. I believe she can hold her own against gods above her rank." The moon goddess's unexpected words calmed the redhead down a little.

"If you say so, my lady, then I have no choice but to admit my mistake," Belkar conceded with an apologetic bow.

"Lord Nereziel, forgive me for doubting your servant."

"Me...?" Well, I only made her my servant so I wouldn't be left with a bad taste in my mouth, but I'd better keep quiet...

"And what about apologizing to me?!" Cerys's eyes looked more spark-filled than usual, as though they were about to burst into flames.

"Cerys, at a more appropriate time, I would be more than happy to duel you."

"That doesn't sound like an apology... But it's exactly what I wanted!" Now that Selene mentions it... Cerys had said something similar when she came back to life. Benefits from being my Soulwarden? In her skills? In her stats? At some point, I'd have to check her information in the Godscript... but now is not the time. I'm not in the mood for surprises... Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"Whether it's duels or anything else, it won't be happening right now," Nerez cut in.

"Selene, those were your two matters, weren't they?"

"Don't worry, for now I'll let you rest. You did just come back from the battle royale, after all. It's been a long day for you," the goddess said.

"But I'll be visiting over the next few days, up until the ceremony."

"Ugh..."

"Of course, nothing complicated, just so we can get to know each other better," Selene added as she headed for the door, with Belkar following behind her.

"After all, both of us have to set out and secure our domains."

"Our domains?"

"Yours is the underworld and its river of death, as we discussed. Mine is the moon and the kingdom I must build upon it, expelling any unwanted guests who still remain there. The same applies to you, of course."

"Unwanted guests..."

Aren, who had ascended as the god of war, had managed to find a place in one of the rows of seats closest to the center of the Genesis Vault, the colossal dome where the Ceremony of Beginnings was taking place. The first row was reserved for the five major gods, those who would reign over the sun, the moon, the earth, the sea, and the sky.

"And the god of time?" Vilkie asked beside him.

"I heard he was invited by the mediators, but ignored them," Aren replied with a shrug.

"Do you think we'll be able to talk to Nerez after this?"

"I doubt it. He's His Exaltedness, the god of death, now, after all. In fact, I think we should call him Lord Nereziel."

"But aren't you the god of war?"

"Haha, now that there are no mortals nor wars in Eryndea, I'm only in the third row. And even setting aside the five major gods, there are plenty far more important beings than me waiting in line to speak with him."

"But... but... We only knew him for two days, but I really think we became friends..."

"So do I, Vilkie," Aren admitted, turning to her with a smile.

"That's precisely why I wouldn't be able to face him after being defeated by Helux and forced to kneel before him."

"That's not fair... you did what you had to do to survive."

"Yes, I know, but that's simply how things work."

"..."

"Don't worry, maybe we'll meet him again sometime in the future. Besides, did I tell you about the line that's going to form just to speak with him? I bet you already know what that means too."

"That he's going to hide as quickly as possible so he won't have to talk to anyone?"

"Haha, exactly. Either way, it would've been difficult to speak with him today."

"That's true," Vilkie said with a laugh.

"That side of him was obvious the moment we met him."!!

"Vilkie, that's Her Holiness, Lirien." All the gods fell silent when the goddess of life began descending one of the staircases leading down to the platform at the center of the dome. She was accompanied by a retinue of gods of different sexes, sizes, and apparent ages. Yet each of them radiated power and grandeur.

"It's His Exaltedness, Nereziel!" Descending the staircase opposite the one used by the goddess of life, and almost at the same moment, the god of death made his appearance, followed by his own attendant.

"The Crimson Calamity..." Aren murmured with a serious look.

"I still remember what happened in the plaza of the Palace of Concord. I don't know how Nerez can sleep peacefully with her at his side..." The rest of the spectators could not help whispering among themselves as they watched the girl with twintails as red as blood. Word of her performance in the Festival of the Gods, as well as her title, had already reached everyone who had not known her before. But that wasn't all.

Not only did the clothes they wore put everyone there to shame, but both of them radiated an overwhelming presence.

"Do you think the Crimson Calamity could beat the goddess of life's retinue all by herself?"

"Don't be a fool. The god of the earth would step in instantly."

"But I heard the goddess of the moon is on Lord Nereziel's side too. She wouldn't remain idle either..." Aren and Vilkie could hear whispers all across the dome, and apparently Nerez could too, judging by the uncomfortable expression already creeping onto his face. Both gods stepped onto the central platform, but while their respective attendants remained at its opposite edges, Nerez and Lirien approached the fountain in the middle. The two did not exchange a single word.

Instead, they turned their gaze to the fountain, whose waters seemed to reflect the universe itself. From the center of that reflection, a golden light emerged, and at the sight of it, Nerez frowned, as though it had stirred an unpleasant memory.

"What do you think happened?" Vilkie asked. But Aren gestured for her to be quiet, and she immediately covered her mouth with both hands. Amid the singing of spirits and divine beings, both gods extended their hands over the fountain and then slowly raised them. As though following their movement, a sphere rose from its black waters, shining with a powerful bluish light. The sphere began to spin, and at the same time an emerald light, emanating from the goddess of life, ran across its surface.

But it was not the only one. A silver light coming from Nerez rose with it. Aren and Vilkie noticed that that silver light was very similar to the color of his hair.

"Could it have something to do with his connection to the Silver Sea?" Vilkie asked again, unable to hold herself back.!! But her question went unnoticed. Everyone watched in horror as the goddess of life began to stagger.